Pardew: Toon’s left-back backup plan will spring into action

Posted on August 11th, 2011 | 60 Comments |

Enrique's departure leaves a hole at left-back.
Square pegs...
The most unexpected transfer of pre-season is finally close to conclusion, with Newcastle United’s Jose Enrique getting his wish granted to strut his stuff in the UEFA Champions League next season by joining Liverpool. Wait a second…Are Liverpool competing in Europe next season?

Anyway, Mr Pardew has given a rare interview with the ‘Chronicle’ in regards to Jose’s exit and potential replacement to the left-back position. He rambled:

Jose showed no motivation to sign a new contract and when a player is in the last year of his contract it is a difficult situation when it comes to accepting a fee.

A replacement is ongoing as we speak. We need to put in place our back-up plan now but I think it’s unfair to name names in public.

Maybe I’m misinterpreting our Alan here, but “we need to put in place our back-up plan now” seems pretty obvious. I’d have thought we would already have a back-up plan done and dusted before we had agreed to let Enrique leave. I mean that’s just sensible, but we all know who’s calling the shots don’t we? In fairness, Enrique hasn’t exactly helped matters either by refusing to talk about his future with the board (allegedly).

I suppose our “back-up plan” was Neil Taylor a few months back, but Swansea ousted our attempts to lure him to St James’ Park and he decided to stay on at Swansea.

So, as Saturday approaches Newcastle don’t have a registered left-back in the squad. Before Enrique left it was obvious we needed another left-back as cover, but now we don’t have anyone. We were lucky that Jose isn’t injury prone, though when he did get injured we had the laughable James Perch as a ‘replacement’.

Maybe Kadar could deputise? Though I think he is better situated at centre-back and he is hardly experienced in the first-team.

It looks as though Danny Simpson or Ryan Taylor will get the chance in an unfamiliar role against the Gunners this weekend. To be fair to both of them though, the former struggles in his own right-back position and the latter is much better deployed in midfield. Shane Ferguson has resumed training today, but he wont be considered due to his lack of fitness. Personally I wouldn’t consider Ferguson at left-back at all, I think he is a left-midfielder, but I’m sure we will hear Pardew tell the world that young Shane can play there. Have I mentioned James Perch?

Now apologies for my sarcasm and down beat mood thus far, it just strikes me as madness to sell your only left-back two days before the Premier League opener. You would have to have been living on the Moon, with your eyes shut and ear plugs in, to not know Jose is off to Liverpool. Why can’t they wait until after Saturday to conclude this deal? Or better still, Have the replacement in already, then sell Jose? Oh yeah, I forgot who calls the shots at the club…

Anyway I’m glad this Enrique ‘story’ is finally close to completion. Like watching the Antiques Roadshow, I found it extremely tedious and boring.

PSV’s Erik Pieters is the alleged replacement for Enrique, though if this deal concludes I doubt he will be ready for Arsenal. PSV coach Fred Rutten has stated recently that no contact from any club regarding a transfer has been made:

No clubs have reported.

Of all those possible transfers in the newspapers, in reality only very few go through.

So, I assume this transfer won’t be going through any time soon. I think though that it’s very likely to happen. Well, not necessarily Peiters but definitely a new left-back.

I’ve been thinking recently about who Pardew will deploy in Midfield on Saturday, now I’m trying to mentally fit square pegs in round holes for the left-back position! I’m quietly confident though that the club will get someone in before the Sunderland game. On the striker situation, I’m far less confident.

At least Arsenal are having a nightmare at the moment, should make for an interesting game for both managers. A poor result for Pardew will undoubtedly lead to boos and hisses from the fans, likewise for Mr Wenger if his team fail to show up. This game could really help quell fears for both sets of fans, so lets see what Saturday brings.

NUFCBlog Author: Jimbob Backpacker extraordinaire and current resident of sunny Sheffield. Loves Marmite, hates peanut butter. Sleeps twice a day, wrestles Polar Bears because he can and regards himself as cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce. Jimbob has written 40 articles on this blog.

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60 Responses

  1. “In fairness, Enrique hasn’t exactly helped matters either by refusing to talk about his future with the board.”

    Wasn’t it just Pardew who said that Jimbob? Some time before Enrique Tweeted “They lie all the time”.

  2. Thank **** he is gone, long running sagas like this are beyond annoying I was even over the moon that Fabregas is going after 4 seasons of ‘Speculation’. He is a good player and was a consistant performer but GET THIS COVER IN! Pieters please but it is Newcastle United

  3. workyticket says:
    August 11, 2011 at 5:51 pm

    “Wasn’t it just Pardew who said that Jimbob? Some time before Enrique Tweeted “They lie all the time”.”

    Yeah, I decided in the last minute to put that line in about him not helping the situation. I believe they are lying too. I was trying to see both sides, but they are all bullsh**ing probably.

    Just tired of it all blah, blah and blah all the time.

    If at the end of last season, would you have been annoyed Enrique was gone? I think not.

    At the end of last season if I said to you “as the first game of the season starts Enrique wont be here and we will still not have a replacement” Would you have been annoyed? I would be! They’ve known since May this was going to happen.

  4. “They’ve known since May this was going to happen”

    Difference is Jimbob you and I give a f*ck :(

  5. No question in my mind that Gosling will slot in the left back and remain there for the season. He played back there for Everton & he does have talent.

  6. What kind of idiot is Pardew? If Jose needed to go then fair enough, but two days before the start of the season we have sold our ONLY left back…. Pieters is lined up, but we havent actually bought him? Does this make sense to anyone from a footballing or business approach. I expect to see a second rate striker signed in a week or two and an emergency left back. This club is a joke!!!!! We have known since the end of last season what we needed to get, and we have failed miserably.

  7. BeeGuy says:

    “No question in my mind that Gosling will slot in the left back and remain there for the season. He played back there for Everton & he does have talent”

    Daniel “Dan” Gosling (born 2 February 1990) is an English footballer who plays for Newcastle United as a centre midfielder, right midfielder or right fullback. Gosling is a versatile player, having operated as a box-to-box midfielder on several occasions and occasionally deputised at right back to accommodate substitutions. Before signing for Newcastle he played for Plymouth Argyle and Everton.

    He may be versatile but he aint that versatile Beeguy :)

  8. Silvafox (8) fully agree with all you said except one part – the club isn’t a joke it is criminal what they are doing.

    As you say, we have known since end of Jan window we needed to replace Carroll and Enriqe. Yet 2 days before the start of the seaon, we have neither in place. Enrique should not have been allowed to leave until his replacement was purchased.

    Also I am sick to death of Pardew preach to us too, saying we have to rethink!! Where does he get off?

    Just remember we the fans were here before you and our owner and we will still be here to pick up the pieces when you lot have gone.

    In the interim, at least afford us some respect and do not treat us like fools.

  9. BeeGuy says:
    August 11, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    “No question in my mind that Gosling will slot in the left back and remain there for the season. He played back there for Everton & he does have talent.”

    He can play at right back BeeGuy. Don’t think he has much history on the left side.

  10. Mags says:
    August 11, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    “In the interim, at least afford us some respect and do not treat us like fools.”

    Mags, at Sports Direct, the massive price reduction tags are often put on garments before they leave the factory. With Mike Ashley, the customer is shit, there to be deceived and Newcastle United is no different.

  11. alan pardew is one of the most deluded idiots in the world of football,he’s talking about the club moving forward,and the expectations of the fans etc.
    the only trouble is alan,you will not be there to see it,once fat boy gets tired of your patter,it’s back to the managerial scrap heap for you.
    from the moment he took the job,the clock is on a countdown to him getting sacked.

  12. Could not give a flying f*uck anymore bores the crap out of me about enrique if he doesnt want to play for nufc then he can get stuffed dont get me wrong hes a hell of a player but everybody’s got a price. And as for all the negativity we lost 9 – 10 first team players when went down remember like it happend yesterday, but we bounced back with a force, dont give up hope still think were stronger than last season.

  13. when is the cockney yes man going to grow a pair? we all knew no striker was coming in when he said if we can get to the bottom of sholas injury problems he will save us a fortune in the transfer market hence no striker signed yet with jose leaving that makes a net profit of 37 million pounds on players in and out of the club and into ashleys back pocket plus the wage bill slashed by 60% in 2 seasons i refuse to believe we cant bring a big name forward to the club hwtl

  14. Workeyticket (13)

    I know, what you say is so true. Deep Sigh!

    Why does it hurt though and why do I care so much?

  15. Mags says:

    “Why does it hurt though and why do I care so much?”

    No real comfort Mags but as you say so rightly “We will be here long after the Fatman and his idiot sidekick have gone”

    When he does go there will be rejoicing in the streets not known since Thatcher got fecked well and truly by her bunch of slimy Yes Men.

  16. Mick G. Good man for gannin’ in for the Prediction Competition!

    Who else is having a go?

    Trojan? AndyMac? Sir Jason? Any other of the regular commenters on here?

    In the words of Delia Smith Cmmmarrrn! Whereareya? Whereareya? :-)

  17. Pardew is no fool but obviously thinks that the fans are.
    This man is quite simply the lying mouthpiece of the cockney mafia and is a greasy, slimy, sneaky 2 faced f@cker who cannot and should not be trusted.

  18. England batted India into submission to assume total control of the third Test at Edgbaston and move ever closer to the number one spot in the world rankings.

    Alastair Cook was the star performer, batting throughout a one-sided second day to reach 182 not out as the hosts closed on 456-3 for a lead of 256, having scored 372 runs in the day.

    Oh bollox. Wrong blog again.

    Come on the Gas.

    Nope, that’s wrong as well.

  19. Funny Kilgore but I imagined that playing India into the ground would be satisfying while achieving No. 1 Ranking – but somehow its just fallen flat.

    India are dreadful, disinterested and probably knackered ?

  20. Borrowed from the football netwrok.net

    “Re: Enrique Bids Farewell To Team-mates As Ashley Pockets �6M
    F00king horrible negotiators, we are. Ashley should hire me…I’ll do the job for 40K a year and a season ticket. They key is convincing the other side of negotiations that you’re willing to walk away from the table. Apparently, everyone knows MA can’t/won’t do that if he has any bid at all on offer for high earner.

    Let me get this straight:

    -Manchester United buy a young player from a French team for 3M. This player-all pejoratives aside-fails to break into the team there, making only 4 starts and 14 appearances in two seasons. We come in for him, pay the exact same 3M and sign him on a new contract to boot.

    -Newcastle United buy a young player from a Spanish team for 6.5M. This player establishes himself in the first team, by consensus one of our best players and one of the better LBs in the league. He plays 36 of 38 games (starting most) in our first season in the PL after being player of the season in the ccc. LFC come in for him and get him for .5-1M less than we paid for him-in the same summer they spend nearly 50M on Henderson, Adam and Downing, none of whom are any better at their position than Enrique”

    Yes I know that Jose only had a year left on his contract but whose fault is that ?

    Pfft.

  21. Pardew, back up plan, dear god in heaven its enough to make you weep, no left back two days before the start of the season? We needed another left back even if Enrique was staying. Pardew has no credibility left, he did’nt have much to start with but I for one was willing to give him a chance but this is just too much. He totally has no say in any transfer dealings.

    ASHLEY OUT, PARDEW OUT, LLAMBIAS OUT

  22. AndyMac says:
    August 11, 2011 at 8:21 pm

    “-Newcastle United buy a young player from a Spanish team for 6.5M. This player establishes himself in the first team, by consensus one of our best players and one of the better LBs in the league. He plays 36 of 38 games (starting most) in our first season in the PL after being player of the season in the ccc. LFC come in for him and get him for .5-1M less than we paid for him-in the same summer they spend nearly 50M on Henderson, Adam and Downing, none of whom are any better at their position than Enrique”

    Pardew had to start running his mouth off in public with complete BS as usual, getting Enrique radged, tweeting and more determined to leave the club, leaving Newcastle in a much weaker negotiationg position.

  23. AM,

    Actually, and notwithstanding, India are in fact a nation of not less than 1.2 billion peoples. I kid you not.

    Furthermorehowsomever, India is in fact a Republic, which may make your pips squeak if you are a monarchist. Or Punjabi.

    Of course, it is aslo home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats. To which we all are, unless we’re out there on the streets giving it greef, an’ all.

    One wonders though, why my dvd’s don’t work.

    With or without the apostrophe.

  24. Worky, I feel a little disgusted with myself. I’m not one to be impartial and I was trying to be here:

    “In fairness, Enrique hasn’t exactly helped matters either by refusing to talk about his future with the board.”

    As I said, I was trying to see both sides. I’ve changed my mind, can you whack in an ‘allegedly’ somewhere? :-)

  25. Well would you credit it NO LOYALTY at this club part from shirl girl, do a bit of tweeting, say you’re looking for a better contract, and leak to the press that the club don’t want you and wait for the agents to arrrive over the horizon, with their greasy chequbooks and sign here contracts, I actually think Liverpool could be in the crap, 100 mill + spending by kenny, and if they dont get top4 champions league they are buggad..

    Some people blaming , ashley some pardoo, but we all know its fat ash that’s pulling all the strings , since the selling of carrol to LFC at the 11th hour, this is a replica of that sale, 11th hour yet again not enough time for replacements, pardoo was brought in when Chrissie would have kicked up a MASSIVE fuss at AC going, now pardoo is towing Cashe’s party line, he won’t grumble, he doesn’t want the bullet!

    ClintF , Panic in the streets of london toon ! cant believe you supported Sir Joe Strumms !!

  26. Clink Flitter,

    IT is no more than I deserve, and I deserve no more.

    I thank you.

  27. jimbob,
    don’t do it mate, enrique is an ex player now.
    He is as guilty as anyone in engineering this.

    Nzed,
    aye mate.
    Top gadjie!
    ;)

  28. CF is right , they all engineer their own moves with their agents doing the background stuff ,

    Poll lads m most loyal current NUFC player please ??

    Mine is Stevie TAYLOR , approached by a number of top clubs and has stayed LOYAL to the cause !

    Shola doesn’t coont as naeone has approached us fer him !

  29. nzed, you couldn’t give Shola away man!

    Clint, hopefully this is the last I ever read / hear about Jose.

    Until he swings in a beauty of a cross for ‘you know who’ to thump home a header at St James’ Park! :-)

  30. “Anyway, Mr Pardew has given a rare interview”

    For goodness sake, how many rare interviews is this bampot going to give? I’ve read more rare interviews in the last couple of months than I’ve had mildy-warm dinners.

    Of which I’ve had a few due to my dvd’s not working.

    Or the oven, whichever comes first.

  31. Kilgore_D_Sprout says:
    August 11, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    “Anyway, Mr Pardew has given a rare interview”

    For goodness sake, how many rare interviews is this bampot going to give?”

    It’s a (somewhat sarcastic) NUFC Blog tradition to put that in now Kilgore.

  32. Kilgore_D_Sprout says:
    August 11, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    “For goodness sake, how many rare interviews is this bampot going to give? I’ve read more rare interviews in the last couple of months than I’ve had mildy-warm dinners.”

    I’ve been more sarcastic than that before. “As rare as the chance to see Halley’s Commet” is probably my favourite one so far. :-)

  33. Until he swings in a beauty of a cross for ‘you know who’ to thump home a header at St James’ Park! …….Or I tell you what how about Marvellous Marvin leaves the little to$$er sprawling on his arse to place a peach of a pass through for Demba to slot home…..be positive man and support the players who actually want to play for the club!!!!!! Every time we bleat on about not having signed so & so we’re disrespecting our current players and not supporting the team.

  34. Aye,
    soon as they make sounds that they want out, i want them out.
    Don’t care who it is.

  35. Worky, just noticed the prizemoney been paid. Great stuff Thanks. Does that mean I’m reigning champion of the score forecasters

  36. OH dear!
    ya can’t type scu nth orpe with out moderation, we play them away in the ccup.
    qunt
    qunt
    qunt
    qunt
    qunt
    qunt
    :)

  37. FFS,
    now i can’t post a link to the official site cos it’s got the evil word sc unt horpe in it.

    :)

    re dick ulous!

  38. First time posting on here so you might just think I talk a load of rubbish so I apologise in advance :)

    All this patter about us going in for Pieters I don’t understand why he is the only player we have been linked with, I know of a couple who fit the bill and would be good additions to the squad, they are; Davide Santon of Inter Milan who likes to get up the pitch much like Jose did, another one is Dennis Aogo of Hamburg, these are both young and quality players, and would believe to be in the range of 4-6 million probably, lets hope we sign someone soon !!!

  39. Obertan-Kinobi, welcome along mate and you say whatever you feel like man ;-)

    Don’t know much about Aogo, but Santon would never happen mate. We should have a replacement in already in my opinion.

  40. Jimbob, Forgot to add that I think we would only ever get davide Santon on loan, most of the people we are linked with seem to good to be true and we will probably get a new French left back and striker to add to our French revolution lol
    I am probably going to be one of these posters who are far too optimistic linking us with unrealistic players and talking a load of tosh but that’s the best part ;)

  41. join the club obertan kinobi im still dreaming of us signing bendtner!

    the man wont even sign for us on fifa!!!

  42. Worky yup up for the predictor thing can you send me a link or post on here.
    Have you’s got a leauge for prem fantasy football?
    Let me know cheers chap.